Vista College To Honor Five Outstanding Graduates From Longview Campus

Graduate Awards recognize students who have shown tenacity, determination, and community involvement

WHAT:Five graduates from the Vista College Longview Campus will be honored with prestigious Vista College awards at commencement ceremonies. The New Horizon Award will be given to one student representing each education field for demonstrating leadership during his or her study and involvement in the community. The Vista Summit Award recognizes graduates who have gone on to be successful within their community and field of study. The Student of the Year Award is the top honor among the graduating class. The Vista College recipients are as follows:

DeCedric Lonzell Williams - New Horizon Award for Business – Williams, of Longview, graduates with a Diploma in the Business Administration program. Over the years, he has faced many obstacles including a car accident which left his mother paralyzed. Seeing his mother’s determination to walk sparked his own determination to achieve. While at Vista College, Williams was on the Dean’s List and was a member of the National Honor Society for Leadership and Academic Success. Williams has already opened his own business, Lonzell’s Writing and Business Consulting Agency, with the mission of teaching employees how to become employers.

Brett Spurlock - The New Horizon Award for Network Administration –Spurlock, of Gilmer, consistently demonstrated the drive and tenacity necessary to successfully complete the Networking Administration program. Additionally, he was always willing to assist his peers, who were having difficulties or facing challenges. While at Vista College, Spurlock was named to the Dean’s List once and the President’s List twice. He is excited about his education path and hopes to pursue a career in the field of information technology, utilizing the knowledge and skills obtained at Vista College.

Erica Alex - New Horizon Award for the Medical Information Specialist - Raised by her grandparents, Alex, of Longview, always wanted to make them proud of her while becoming someone she could be proud of as well. Unfortunately, she became a teen mom to two children and did not receive her high school diploma. She persevered, obtained her GED, and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. After two years as a CNA, she realized she needed to go back to school. She enrolled in Vista College because it was a non-traditional school that would fit her schedule and give her a second chance. Since completing her externship, she has passed her billing and coding certification and begun a new career with Diagnostic Clinic of Longview.

Cori Harness - New Horizon Award for the Dental Assisting Program – Before attending Vista College, Harness, of Gladewater, worked for a local school district. She decided she wanted to go back to school and improve herself and her future. When she began at Vista College, she had perfect attendance and was named to the President’s List. It was not easy for her. She had one child in college, one in high school, and one in elementary school. The stress was getting the best of her, and one day when she found herself left with only seven dollars and half a tank of gas, she felt like she couldn’t go on. With the support of her family, instructors, and Vista College Campus Director Tim Armstrong, she was not only able to continue her studies, but she also maintained a 4.0 GPA while remaining on the President’s List. Additionally, she took extra classes and has become certified as a Phlebotomy Technician.

Dylan Hitchcock - Student of the Year – While at Vista College, Hitchcock, of Gladewater, was an exemplary student who always had a good attitude, a professional appearance, and excelled in his studies. He maintained high grades in all of his classes, going above and beyond, including taking extra classes to become certified as a Phlebotomy Technician. During his externship at NeuroHealth Center, PLLC, he received strong praise on his professionalism, attitude, knowledge and desire to continue learning.

Vista College is a network of private, post-secondary career colleges offering a variety of training programs including: healthcare, business, and technology, legal and vocational/trades. Vista College offers online programs and has seven on-ground campuses in Texas (Amarillo, Beaumont, El Paso, Killeen, Longview and Lubbock) and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Vista College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Consumer Information may be viewed at www.vistacollege.edu. For Vista College’s Longview Campus, call 903-286-0291.